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Re: Tough roster decision looming for Steelers

Ed: Doesn't Look Good for Keisel

THURSDAY, 28 OCTOBER 2010 15:50 WRITTEN BY ED BOUCHETTE

It looks as if we might see both Ziggy Hood AND Nick Eason start at defensive end against the Saints on Sunday. Brett Keisel did not practice again and, in fact, was gone from the building this afternoon, not even at practice. It does not look good that he will play on Sunday.

The good news is that laMarr Woodley went through a full practice and so did Flozell Adams.

The Steelers still have not made a move to replace Aaron Smith. That surely means that someone on the practice squad will be added to the 53-man roster, probably on Saturday, almost surely Steve McLendon But they have to release someone to make room on the roster for McLendon.

Who will that be? Charlie Batch. Nope. Anyone released from now until the end of the season, even a vested veteran, has to go through waivers. Previously, vested veterans such as Batch were released, period. If another team offered them a contract, they could decline.

But if Batch were released, another team could claim him and he would have no choice to either go with that team or retire. The Steelers, then, would be taking a chance by releasing Batch that they would lose him. They’ll have to take that chance with someone else instead.

Re: Tough roster decision looming for Steelers

Aaron Smith was a welcome sight to his teammates and coaches Thursday at the Steelers’ practice facility.

They could have done without seeing the veteran defensive end’s left arm in a sling.

“He’s one tough son of a gun and he’ll get back quicker than most people would,” Steelers defensive coordinator D!ck LeBeau said.

The question is will Smith return in time to help the Steelers this season?

Smith and the Steelers actually got good news when it was discovered that he had only partially torn the tricep in his left arm.

And no one doubts that if anyone can make it back sooner rather than later from his third major injury in the last four years it is Smith, who is as tough as they come.

But there are other factors to consider when weighing the likelihood of Smith playing again this season.

Perhaps the most significant is the health of the rest of the Steelers on the 53-man roster.

If the Steelers experience a rash or noteworthy number of injuries in the coming weeks, they may not have the luxury of holding onto a roster spot for a player who may not suit up again this season.

“Hopefully things work out and we don’t have to put him on (injured reserve) due to other injuries,” Steelers inside linebacker and defensive co-captain James Farrior said. "We’re just hoping and praying that everything works out and we get him at the end of the season.”

Said LeBeau, “It’s one of the downsides of this business, seeing people you love get injured but it happens to every team practically every week. Aaron will triumph it in the end.”

Re: Tough roster decision looming for Steelers

they should cut battle. madison is a better ST player than battle is. the steelers also have sanders and brown who are already better than battle and ARE. it would be nice to have sanders and brown both active every game